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Changes over time of psychoacoustic outcome measurements are not a substitute for subjective outcome measurements in acute tinnitus

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess correlations between the changes over time of various tinnitus measurements. A longitudinal prospective study comparing two test moments was performed: before treatment and after 90 days. Tinnitus assessment consisted of psychoacoustic outcome measurements (minimal masking level and loudness matching at 1 kHz) and subjective outcome measurements (Tinnitus Impairment Questionnaire, Tinnitus Questionnaire and Numeric Rating Scale of loudness and annoyance). Additionally, the effect size was measured. 35 subjects were included in this study. The subjects had a permanent, non-pulsatile tinnitus acquired <3 months previously. Weak or no significant correlations were found between ∆psychoacoustic outcome measurements and ∆subjective outcome measurements. The effect size showed that subjective outcome measurements were the most responsive to measure change in tinnitus complaints. We can conclude that psychoacoustic outcome measurements of tinnitus cannot substitute subjective outcome measurements in patients with acute tinnitus. The authors recommend subjective outcome measurements as primary outcome measurements in a clinical setting. In research, however, it is meaningful to quantify tinnitus in both ways.

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Abbreviations

MML:

Minimal masking level

LM:

Loudness matching

THI-12:

Tinnitus Impairment Questionnaire

TQ:

Tinnitus Questionnaire

NRS:

Numeric Rating Scale

VAS:

Visual Analogue Scale

PTA:

Pure-tone average of 1,2 and 4 kHz

dBSL:

Decibel sensation level

dBHL:

Decibel hearing level

∆LM:

Change over time of loudness matching

∆MML:

Change over time of minimal masking level

∆NRS:

Change over time of Numeric Rating Scale

∆TQ:

Change over time of Tinnitus Questionnaire

∆THI-12:

Change over time of Tinnitus Impairment Questionnaire

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by a grant of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the TOP-BOF project of the University of Antwerp.

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have any possible conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium

    Sarah Rabau, Andrea Kleine Punte, Annick Gilles & Paul Van de Heyning

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Sarah Rabau, Andrea Kleine Punte, Annick Gilles & Paul Van de Heyning

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Jessa Hospital Campus Virga Jesse, Hasselt, Belgium

    Tony Cox, Brecht Waelkens & Sebastien Janssens de Varebeke

  4. Department of Scientific Coordination and Biostatistics, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium

    Kristien Wouters

Authors
  1. Sarah Rabau
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  2. Tony Cox
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  3. Andrea Kleine Punte
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  4. Brecht Waelkens
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  8. Paul Van de Heyning
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Correspondence to Sarah Rabau.

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Rabau, S., Cox, T., Punte, A.K. et al. Changes over time of psychoacoustic outcome measurements are not a substitute for subjective outcome measurements in acute tinnitus. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 272, 573–581 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2876-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2876-3

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